Practical and Easy-to-Implement Methods to Utilize Generative AI in the Workplace
The Information Technology Services (ITS) Summer Series recently featured Technology Transformation Specialist Shannon Glennon, who discussed the benefits of incorporating generative AI tools into workflows. One such tool, Microsoft 365 Copilot, is now available to help with tasks like writing emails, scheduling meetings, creating presentations, and more.
Embracing AI for Efficiency and Productivity
At universities like the University of Texas at Austin and the University of San Diego, Microsoft 365 Copilot is offered to faculty, staff, and students at no additional cost. Officially supported training, such as workshops, webinars, and hands-on labs, is designed to build digital fluency and boost productivity.
To get started:
- Use Copilot to draft and refine emails swiftly by providing prompts about the desired message tone and content.
- Employ Copilot for scheduling assistance by summarizing prior meeting notes or integrating with Outlook to propose meeting times and agendas.
- Utilize AI-powered document creation by inputting bullet points or rough outlines and letting Copilot generate polished text suitable for reports, lesson plans, or research summaries.
- Summarize lengthy documents, research papers, or meeting transcripts automatically to extract key insights quickly.
- For image generation to support presentations or publications, use Copilot’s integration with AI image tools to create customized visuals from text prompts while complying with university policies.
Navigating Academic Integrity
When using AI tools, it's crucial to consider academic integrity policies and ensure AI use aligns with your institution's guidelines, especially for students. Start by experimenting with these tools on simpler tasks, then gradually expand as you gain confidence and identify where AI best augments your workflow.
Staying Informed and Improving Proficiency
Learning through official university workshops or online tutorials will accelerate your proficiency. The key is iteration—regular use in everyday tasks builds familiarity, enabling you to focus on creative and strategic work while AI handles routine activities, which has been reported to save users one to two hours daily in some university environments.
Subscribing to the AI Insights newsletter provides periodic tips, demos, and updates about AI. To use AI tools on University-owned data, log in to University-approved AI tools and platforms using your syr.edu or g.syr.edu credentials.
With the ITS training session scheduled for Aug. 12 focusing on Modernizing Identity Management (Orange Access), and videos of past ITS training sessions available for viewing, there's no better time to start exploring the potential of generative AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, can be utilized effectively in academic environments by students, faculty, and staff for tasks like drafting and refining emails, scheduling meetings, generating polished documents, and summarizing lengthy materials.
It's essential to prioritize academic integrity when integrating AI tools into workflows and adhere to university policies regarding AI usage. Familiarizing oneself through official university workshops, online tutorials, and resources like the AI Insights newsletter will not only bolster one's proficiency with AI tools but also help navigate potential academic integrity issues.
